* * *
And are these the greatest Christians now alive?
The most famous Christians are not necessarily the greatest Christians, and the quest for fame is intrinsically at odds with the spiritual life.
When Edith Shaeffer was asked who the greatest living Christian woman in the world was, she replied memorably, ‘We don’t know her name. She is dying of cancer somewhere in a hospital in India.’
Who is the greatest? The disciples were vexed by this question, and Jesus tried to solve it more than once. The one who believes like a child. The one who can serve others.
* * *
The blogosphere can be a noisy place. A clamour of opinion, attack, self-promotion and the trivial, though shot through with gems of insight, wisdom, humour and beauty. And sometimes, even with the divine.
Sometimes, the difference between the echo chamber of anger, finger pointing and “outing” in the Christian blogosphere, and the gentle whisper in which God ultimately speaks to Elijah can be striking.
And just when you despair, you hear gentle voices which are close to God’s heartbeat, Ann Voskamp, definitely, and often, the more polemic John Piper, and you feel better. You realize that even the snakes and ladders world of fame, celebrity, attention, followers, is, of course, under the sovereignty of God. That God is sovereign over the literary world, and sovereign over the blogosphere. That God has an interest in promoting mystics like Ann Voskamp whose heart beats like his.
* * *
We write to be read. When I first began blogging, I worried, because it seemed that controversy, attack and tearing down definitely got more traction, readers, attention and links, than things which might be a blessing, be soul-nourishing and soul-fattening.
But there are spiritual dangers in tearing down other Christians, or other Christian bloggers. It’s the work of “the accuser of the brethren who accuses them night and day before the throne.” Though sometimes, if the views of an influential Christian are harmful, something might need to be said. Or done.
* * *
But there are spiritual dangers too in writing about the spiritual life. The wonderful Norwegian writer, O. Hallesby, said that one’s secret life with Christ in the secret places of prayer is like a cosy, warm Norwegian cottage in a blustery winter. If you talk about your prayer life, you open the door, and cold wintry blasts enter.
The only justification for doing so is that that’s the song I have to sing. One of my deepest interests. I read Christian memoirs and autobiographies as travel dispatches from people who have ventured deeper into the holy wilds of God than I have, and I want to hear the news, the travel conditions, their blog, Facebook, and twitter reports of their travels, so to say. Similarly, by honestly describing my spiritual adventuring, I might be able construct a travel map, a topographical map for those who might be called to follow similar routes.
But we need grace, for writing about the spiritual life has all sorts of dangers—pride, self-promotion, exaggeration, and the dangers of “garden writing:” that one might spend more time describing the fruits and flowers in the garden of your soul than tending them. That one can continue with spiritual “garden writing,” even while the real garden grows weedy, unwatered and unkempt. This happens to many Christian preachers, speakers, celebrities and writers. But may it not be true of me, Lord.
* * *
My hope, my goal in my blog posts is that I hear or overhear what God is saying, and saying to me, and express it. I want to see the world and see reality as he does.
We write to be read. Amid the clamour of many voices and the self-promotion of commercial Christianity, will gentle whispers ever be heard?
Yes. Because if one has sat at Christ’s feet long enough to hear his voice and feel his heartbeat, then he is as interested in having your voice heard as you are yourself.
So, relax, oh Christian blogger. If you do indeed have something to say which might bless the world, you have a friend in high places, a powerful connection, who also wants your voice to be heard, your words to be read, and know the best way to bring about this happy eventuality.
Read my new memoir: Rosaries, Reading, Secrets: A Catholic Childhood in India (US) or UK.
Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anitamathiaswriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anita.mathias/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnitaMathias1
My book of essays: Wandering Between Two Worlds (US) or UK
Marilyn says
I wrestle with this (ie – blogging in ways that are God-centered), so thank you for the wise reminder.
Anita Mathias says
Yeah, me too, Marilyn!
Anita says
Thanks, Kathryn:-). I guess it takes a while to think out and write the blogs, and it's sad if it dies within a day. Twitter can extend the shelf-life of blogs:-)
Kathryn de Belle says
P.S. Interesting to see a Cathryn with a “C”!
Kathryn de Belle says
While I understand why it is done, I am sometimes alarmed by the relentless promotion of blogs on Twitter. This alarm includes the distress evident when something went wrong with Twitter a day or two ago. I thought, hang on a minute, it isn't exactly life- threatening. But maybe I'm missing something… I love to read whatever I can about the spiritual journey of other people, no doubt about that.
Anita says
Thanks much, Cathryn, Blessings, Anita
Cathryn Hasek says
I concur, write what is in your heart…God is always in my heart so I must write what He gives me to write. He is a wonderful muse and the best writer/blogger there is…ha, no wonder His book is the number one bestseller of all time! Blessings, and keep on writing Christian Sister!
Anita @ Dreaming Beneath the Spires says
Thanks, Mum of 12 and Nancy. Mum of 12, yes the audience keeps us going. It would be hard without it!
Nancy, I just googled to get those lists, and so I suppose US bestselling Christian authors showed up!
Nancy Wallace says
You have some thought-provoking comments on the spiritually dangers of blogging about personal prayer life etc. I tend to be very private about my relationship with God. At the same time, I'm well aware that that is what provides the well on which I draw and sometimes the struggles will appear (often indirectly) on my blog and sometimes the joys. I love your Edith Shaeffer quote. I think the lists at the start of your post have a strong US consumer bias, especially the most read Christian authors.
Mom of 12 says
I think people blog for lots of different reasons. For me, I really want to chronicle some of our family's history. Having an audience forces me to keep going. What writer doesn't want to be read?
Sandy
Anita says
Thanks, Freda for the encouragment.
@Jo, Congratulations on your first year of blogging. You'll find your second year will bring many more readers! I've been blogging for 19 months now, and that was my experience:)
Freda says
I think you are right to be yourself and reflect God's love and light through your blog. It will simply happen as you share views that care for others. Every Blessing
Jo Royal says
Hey, I enjoyed reading this post – especially the challenge it sets to Christian bloggers to try to avoid the pitfalls of public blogging. I have been blogging for a year (tomorrow!) and it astonished me that my blog 'the one where I dish the dirt' got record hits – presumably because people thought I was going to gossip. It is such a shame that, as you said, blogs that tear others down or rant and rave for the sake of it seem to get the most attention. I hope never to view my number of hits as more important than lovingly expressing that which I hope will allow others to understand and see a little bit more of God in their own life. I hope that if I were to venture too far off this path – someone would gently tell me. I guess the trust between the writer and the reader is more important than I first thought.